Author: Emily Gautreaux

Top Museums in Louisiana

Museums have a way of sparking the imagination, painting pictures of the past, forcing us to think in ways we haven’t before.  Typically, an experience at a good museum will shift our perception, enlighten us, open our minds. Louisiana is home to many good museums of all types but we have compiled a list of the best.

 

  1. The National World War II Museum, New Orleans, LA
    This epic museum is in the Central Business District in New Orleans and as so host’s tourists from all over the world. It is no wonder that this museum has continued to expand and incorporate groundbreaking attractions such as Tom Hanks’ “Beyond All Boundaries,” which incorporates a 4D tour of the war with first-person encounters. Speaking of first person encounters, actual veterans of the war are often stationed around the vast levels of memorabilia from the war and are happy to share their own experience with visiting guests. You can also catch a ride back in time at BB’s Stage Door Canteen where acts such as The Vic-Tones, celebrate the music of the 1940s. Other attractions include “The Road to Tokyo: Pacific Theatre Galleries,” the John E. Kushner Restoration Pavilion, U.S. Freedom Pavilion: The Boeing Center, and many more attractions all about World War II.

 

  1. LSU Rural Life Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
    Dedicated to preserving the lifestyles of 18th and 19th century rural Louisiana, the Louisiana State University Rural Life Museum is truly a trip back in time. This mostly outdoor museum, hosts a variety of activities all around the property utilizing the largest collection of architecture and artifacts from that period. Volunteers can be seen making cuisine such as homemade sausage, doing blacksmith work, or displaying cultural dances of the time. Three distinct areas make up the museum. The Exhibit Barn is where hundreds of artifacts from these periods are set out for display for each guest to view. The Plantation Quarters has a setup of an entire plantation property including the blacksmith shop, sugar house, and grist mill that are all authentically furnished to display the true nature of life on a plantation in the 19th century. Lastly, Louisiana Folk Architecture displays the various cultures that settled in Louisiana back in the day as the various architectural styles, such as shotgun, Acadian, and dogtrot houses, are in full view to enjoy.

 

  1. Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA
    As one of the top art museums in central Louisiana, the Alexandria Museum of Art hosts some of the best exhibits in the state. Current exhibitions include “Tierce: Artists of Louisiana Francophone Culture,” which celebrates the rich French connection that thrives in the state till this very day. Artists of French heritage are on display as well as pieces by French artists themselves. More exhibits include “Beyond Mammy,” “Jezebel,” and “Sapphire: Reclaiming Images of Black Women,” and “Faculty & Friends: Reminiscing,” which highlights 13 artists who have had strong ties to the museum in its 40-year history. Come celebrate the brilliant local and international art displays as well as yearly competitions at this central Louisiana museum.

 

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Healthy Fall Pumpkin Chili Recipe

Healthy fall pumpkin chili recipe. What more could you ask for in a recipe to start of your October!? This pumpkin chili recipe is an autumn favorite. Not only is it healthy, but it’s loaded with delicious ingredients and big, bold flavors. A good chili recipe is the perfect fall staple that is great to make for friends and family on the weekends for a get together and it can even work as left overs for a few days into the week. This simple recipe will quickly become a fall favorite! It’s comforting, cozy, and deviously savory.

 

Ingredients

  • 2 TB olive oil
  • 1 onion, diced
  • 7 cloves garlic, chopped
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • 1 TB chili powder
  • 1 TB ground cumin
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 2 tsp oregano
  • 2 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 lb ground turkey
  • 3 TB tomato paste
  • 2 green + 1 orange/yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped
  • 2 cans (14.5 oz each) fire-roasted tomatoes, with juices
  • 3 cups chicken or turkey broth
  • 2 (14 oz each) cans black beans, rinsed well and drained
  • 1/2 cup pure pumpkin puree
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
  • shredded cheddar cheese for topping, optional

Instructions

  1. In a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil until hot. Add onion and garlic, stirring until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add sugar, chili powder, cumin, pumpkin pie spice, oregano, and coriander. Stir to combine, 10 seconds.
  2. Add ground turkey to pot and sprinkle 1 tsp salt over it; cook/stir to break up into small pieces. When turkey is cooked through, add tomato paste and stir 30 seconds.
  3. Add bell peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes with juices, and broth. Scrape bottom of pan while stirring. Bring chili to a simmer; simmer covered for 20 minutes. Add beans and pumpkin puree. Bring chili back to a simmer for 15-20 min or until heated through. Remove from heat. Add additional kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Serve warm, with shredded cheddar cheese if desired.

Notes

Chili keeps well; simply cover and chill in fridge. Reheat by bringing back to simmer on stovetop.
Make it meatless by using veggie broth and omitting turkey.

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Best Hiking Trails in Louisiana

Who knew Louisiana was such a hiking hub? Lots of people!  We have compiled the best trails for you complete with authentic hiker feedback, no matter if you are a family with kids or the hiking professional.

 

  1. Comite Park Trail, Moderate

Comite Park Trail is a 4.9 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The trail is rated as moderate and offers a number of activity options. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

 

“I’ve hiked and bike here many times. Excellent for Louisiana! Close to BR. Recommended for a local hike and/or challenging single track mountain biking.” -Clyde F.

 

  1. Bogue Chitto State Park Gorge Run Trail, Moderate

Bogue Chitto State Park Gorge Run Trail is a 6.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Franklinton, Louisiana that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

 

“Great hike. I strongly suggest bringing some bug spray. If you’re into fishing: the trail has an abundance of streams and little lakes where you can drop a line. Not all trail markers are easily seen and some intersections are not marked properly so download a map if you can.” -Macy A.

 

  1. Lake Chicot Loop Trail, Moderate

Lake Chicot Loop Trail is a 17.3 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near Ville Platte, Louisiana that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is best used from March until October. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

 

“Trail is 19 miles. I did the entire loop, camped at #6 overnight. Great place, not too many hikers, but this is August in South Louisiana. Deer flies were the worst. Saw a bunch of Armadillos this time and a cool looking snake, but not much else. Two weeks ago I saw 2 sets of deer, a raccoon and a snake. There are also squirrels every time if you look.
This is a great place, I just wish they had more than 6 camp sites. I also bring all my water. I don’t think I’d filter that lake water unless I was dying.” -Abe D.

 

  1. Wild Azalea Trail, Moderate

 

Wild Azalea Trail is a 23.9 mile moderately trafficked point-to-point trail located near Woodworth, Louisiana that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.

 

“Very chill trail to unwind. I started at the Valentine Lake rec area and went to the 20 mile marker just past the intersection of Castor Plunge Rd and 212. Mile markers 6-9 have some sweet creeks and so do Mile markers 15-17. Well marked and well traveled so you can go miles without even using the yellow diamonds posted on the trees. Make sure to grab a spider web stick so you aren’t getting a face full of Golden Orb Weavers. Not the prettiest or most exciting but very relaxing and worth the great workout once or twice. I’ve done 24 miles (markers 1-12 and back) one time and 20 miles (markers 11-20.5) another time. I’ve about had my fill of the trail but it would be better with friends of course! My 3L CamelBak lasted about 20 miles in the early August morning because the shade made it a bit cooler. A few good creeks to get water from with my LifeStraw too. Bugs didn’t bother me too bad and it never got super muddy. Low lying veg gets scratchy, narrow in some areas to allow spider webs.  I recommend listening to Astrophysics for People in a Hurry on Audible when you do this hike. It was relaxing and a bit enlightening.” -Chris F.

 

  1. Backbone Trail, Moderate

 

Backbone Trail is a 9.8 mile lightly trafficked loop trail located near Provencal, Louisiana that offers the chance to see wildlife and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.

 

“There are some areas where it seems a bit overgrown and a few areas where its hard to tell what direction to go. 4G coverage and LTE every once in a while on the trail. I would recommend doing this trail in the cooler months of the year. Mosquitos weren’t a problem but I still brought insect repellent and sunscreen. Walking sticks help a lot on this trail. I started from the northern trail head and ended at the southern trail head. Bring a backpack with plenty of water-at least 3 liters per person, walking sticks, bug spray sunglasses, and do this in cooler temps….not 93 degrees and humid.” -Ashley S.

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LDOE Begins New Career Option Course

The LDOE has recently announced, “select school systems across the state are piloting a new course designed to help ensure all students are prepared for success following high school graduation. The course, called Quest for Success, allows middle and high school students to develop essential workplace skills, explore various careers and industry sectors, and learn about themselves and their interests in order to successfully navigate high school, post-secondary education and career pathways”.

The article explains, “the ultimate indication of our students’ career readiness and our effectiveness in preparing them is the success they find after they leave us–the extent to which they are employed in jobs they enjoy and that allow them to earn a good living, support their families and meaningfully contribute to their communities,” said State Superintendent John White. “These are bold ambitions that will require families, educators and industry leaders to work together, but the implementation of Quest for Success, first through the pilot schools and then statewide, is a step in the right direction.”

Quest for Success, which replaces the current course called Journey to Careers, was written by 22 educators as part of their participation in the Louisiana Educator Voice Fellowship. The fellowship, a partnership between the Louisiana Department of Education and national nonprofit organization America Achieves, supports the state’s comprehensive effort to improve career readiness, which includes its Jump Start program.

Quest for Success is now being piloted in 38 school systems, and only teachers in those school systems who completed a specialized training are allowed to lead the course this year. Throughout the 2018-2019 school year, the course will be studied and revised based on teacher and student input, and a formal evaluation will be conducted at the year’s end.

For the full article and more information on the release of Quest for Success, click here.

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What Are The Cheapest Times to Fly?

We asked the airfare expert: What are the cheapest times to fly?  The time of year you fly matters. Just ask anyone who’s traveled the same route at Thanksgiving vs. any other time of the year and they’ll tell you stories about November holiday fares costing three, four or five times the usual rate. The days of the week you fly matter, too, and it matters year-round.  For U.S. domestic flights, the cheapest days to fly are usually Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. For flights to Europe, weekdays tend to be cheaper than weekends. These examples show round-trip fares for travel in June. You can’t always save a third to half-off on airfare as the following examples show by flying the cheapest days but you can usually save something. Try juggling different dates to find the best/cheapest combination. The first step for all airfare shoppers is to compare prices on your route on your preferred dates, then try different day-of-week combinations to see how much you can bring them down. Don’t pass up any savings; you can put those funds to much better use during your vacation.  Also, air fare to Europe are currently at historic lows. If you were thinking of going abroad, this might be the perfect time, but why not save every last dollar you’re entitled to by flying the cheapest days of the week? Check out the examples below:

Boston-Las Vegas
Fly Friday/Sunday: $500
Fly Saturday/Wednesday: $228

Boston-Miami
Fly Thursday/Sunday: $312
Fly Saturday/Saturday: $203

Denver-Seattle
Fly Friday/Sunday: $391
Fly Saturday/Wednesday: $341
Fly Saturday/Tuesday: $333

New York-Paris
Fly Saturday/Sunday: $548
Fly Monday/Tuesday: $470

Check out cheapair.com for more deals!

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Perfect Pot Roast

Let’s cover a southern classic- the pot roast. Sometimes we skip over the classics because we never learned how to make them like Mama or Maw maw used to make them.   Try your hand at this hearty favorite with this simple, easy recipe as your guide. You won’t regret it!

Ingredients

Salt and freshly ground black pepper
One 3- to 5-pound chuck roast
2 or 3 tablespoons olive oil
2 whole onions, peeled and halved
6 to 8 whole carrots, unpeeled, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 cup red wine, optional
3 cups beef broth
2 or 3 sprigs fresh rosemary
2 or 3 sprigs fresh thyme

Preparation

Preheat the oven to 275 degrees F. Generously salt and pepper the chuck roast.
Heat the olive oil in large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the halved onions to the pot, browning them on both sides. Remove the onions to a plate. Throw the carrots into the same very hot pot and toss them around a bit until lightly browned, about a minute or so. Reserve the carrots with the onions. If needed, add a bit more olive oil to the very hot pot. Place the meat in the pot and sear it for about a minute on all sides until it is nice and brown all over. Remove the roast to a plate. With the burner still on high, use either red wine or beef broth (about 1 cup) to deglaze the pot, scraping the bottom with a whisk. Place the roast back into the pot and add enough beef stock to cover the meat halfway. Add in the onions and the carrots, along with the fresh herbs. Put the lid on, then roast for 3 hours for a 3-pound roast. For a 4 to 5-pound roast, plan on 4 hours. The roast is ready when it’s fall-apart tender.

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